Cattle-stanchion.



` k1. H. LEVIS.

CATTLE STANCHION.

APPLICATION FALED FEB. 24. l9l3.

1,152,523.. PatentedSpt. 7, 1915.

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l \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\y\\y\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Inventor.

{Ma/ A My. v 40 8 Attgs.

JAMES H. LEVIS, OF IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS.

cArrLnsraNcnIoN.

Application filed February 24;, 1913.

To all w/wm it may concern Be 1t known that I, JAMES` H. LEVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ipswich, county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Cattle-Stanchions, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like characters on the drawing representing like parts.

rIhis invention relates to cattle stanchions and it has for its object to provide a novel swinging stanchion which can be easily opened or closed at a point remote from the stanchion; to provide a construction whereby when any stanchion is opened it will be automatically centered and held in' centered position until it is closed; and to provide'a novel mechanism by which any desired number or any particular stanchions of a plurality of stanchions in a stable can be opened simultaneously. y y

The features wherein my invention resides will be more fully hereinafter described and then pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the drawings whereinI have illustrated the preferred embodiment of Illy invention, Figure 1 shows a portion of a stable having my improved stanchions therein, the stanchions being shown in elevation; Fig. v2 is a section on the line m-m, Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the head portion of a stanchion; Fig. dis a section on the line g/-y, Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the selective 'device by which any particular stanchion can be operated from a central point. f

1 designates a stable `floor, 2 the manger and 3 the platform or walk behind the cattle.

My improved stanchion comprises two stanchion members 4 and 5 which are pivoted at their lower ends, as at 6,so as to permit them to be moved toward and from Aeach other, as shown by the full and dotted lines Fig. 1, and a head 7 situated at the top" of the stanchion and which forms a guide for the upper ends of thestanchiongmembers and is provided with latches to engage said upper ends to lock the stanchion closed. In the preferred embodiment of my invention the head' 7 is formed with two connected side pieces 8 thereby forming a sort of hollow frame, and the upper ends 9 of the stanchion members 4 and 5 are received within said frame between the side pieces 8.

10 designate latches which are pivoted Specication of Letters Patent.

- matically. This is Patented Sept. 7, 1915. serial no. 750,109. l

ywithin the frame and are adapted to engage the upper ends 9 of the stanchion member. As herein shown these two latches are oppositely disposed and both are pivoted to the same pintle-pin 11 which is carried by the `frame 7. Each latch has a shoulder 12 which is adapted to engage the upper end 9 of a stanchion member thereby to lock the .stanchion member closed, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. The latches extend some distance beyond the shoulder 12 and the overhanging portion thereof is of sufficient weight to hold the latch positively in locking engagement with the stanchion members. To open the stanchion members the weights arelifted to disengage the shoulders 12 from the upper ends 9 of said members, and as soon as this is done the stanchion members will swing outwardly bygravity and open autodue to the fact that the stanchion members are bow-shaped and the center of gravity of each stanchion member is considerably outside of the pivotalpoint 6.

For supporting the head 7 I have provided the latter with a neck portion 16 which is herein shown as hollow or tubular for reasons hereinafter described, and which neck is sustained in a supporting plate 18 that is secured to the standards 19. The supporting plate 18 will'be removably secured to the standards 19, and this can conveniently be provided for by forming the standards with guiding brackets 20 between which the edges ofthe plate 18 are received. The supporting plate 18 canbe bolted, screwed or otherwise fastened to the brackets to preventit from being withdrawn` when in use.

In order to provide for unlocking the latches from a point remote from the stanchion', I propose to employ a cord or flexible connection lwhich is provided with the two branches 14 that are connected to the two latches 10 at 15 so that an upward pull 0n the cord 13 will lift the latches and free lthe shoulders 12 thereof from the stanchion memberst and-5. The cord 13 passes up through the hollow neck 16 and may be led to any point remote from the stanchions at ywhich it is desirable to operate the stanchions. y

An upward pull on the cord 13 will release the vlatches 10' from the stanchion members, as will be obvious, and the stanchion members will then automatically open out into the dotted line position Fig. 1 by the action of gravity.

'closing stanchion memberv Ipro.-V

Nvidea stanchion-,closing cord'21 which eX- tends down through the hollow'neck 16 and yie is provided with the two branches 22 that Y lead `to and are connected with theupper' ends ofthe stanchion members 4l and 5, respectively. When the stanchion is open f thesewbranches '22 are in substantially a# straight line, as shown by dottedlines Fig. 3,` andwhen the'parts are in this position,

y-anjupward pull ony the stanchion-closing bers pass inside of Vthe shoulders 12,

cord '21 willk draw the stanchion members together.

vtion above described andthestanchion-opening and stanchion-closing cords 13L and 21 tor eachstanchion are arrangedso that they can be manipulated fromy the'same point.'

" ln 'the embodiment of the invention herein shown I have provided an arrangement whereby all or anyone of the stanchions Ycan be operated from the end 'ofthe stable,

and for this'purpose the stanchion-opening cord 13 for each stanchion'isled up over ay direction l pulley 23 thatA is sustained in a suitable bracket 24 secured to the supporting plate -13'and said cords arethen led to the endl of the stable.'` The -stanchion-closing .cord v21 for each stanchionis ledfup over a direction pulley 61 that may beV carried by 'the propery bracket 24Y and thenv is secured to a stanchion-closing 'member 25 in the form of a rod orV bar that extends the length of v the stable yand is mounted for longitudinal yfoper'ate to vclose all the stanchions that arev i v -movement in suitable'bearingsQ. Each of the stanchion-closing. cords 21 is connected to the stanchion-closing bar, as `at 27, so that a movement of the bar to the left Fig. 1 will openLj This stanchion-closing bar is preferably yprovided with automatically oper- 'ated means for keeping the bar to the righthand endvof` its movementor in the position provided a counterweight 23 for thisp'urpose. l The left-hand end of said bar is provided with a knob yor handle 29 by which the bar can be drawn forwardly torclose the stan chiens. f

p lectingthe propericord and drawing therey im),

on to open any desired stanchion. Inorder to facilitate the opening of several stanchions kat onetime/I have provided a selective, de-

vice by which any desired stanchions can be selected and operated independently ofthe other stanchions. One form of this seleckcomprises two rock shafts'3'1'and 32 suitably .36 or some other other fastening device which can be fastened into the eyes 35 on eitherrockshaft. By turning the rock shafts in the direction of the arrows in Fig.y 5 the movement of the lingers 34 will draw forwardly on the cords 13 attached to the lingers andby this means thel stanchions can be unlocked and opened.

Assuming that the stable has twenty stalls and-twenty stanchions, then I will preferably provide each of the rock-shafts 31, 32 with twenty lingers 34, and each of the stanchionclosing cords will be numbered to correspond with the number of the stanchion or stall. If now it is desired to release at any one time the cattle in stalls number 3,

.5', '7, 8, 9, 14, 15 and 18, the corresponding ously. After any stanchion is open and the pull on the corresponding stanchion-opening 'cord 13 has been relieved the gravity-actuated latches 10 are allowed to rest on the up- 'per ends of the stanchion members, and said f latches thus operate to assist in vholding the stanchion open. rThis construction by which anyv desired number and any vparticular stanchions can be opened simultaneously is an important feature because in caring for a large number of cattle the herdsman usually wishes to release different groups 0f Vcattlefat different times and my vinvention enables him to accomplish this without the "necessity of walking the length ofthe stable to release the cattle individually.

' A"shown in Fig. 1,` and as herein shown 1 `have 7 .1 preferably provide the rock shafts 31,

automatically to hold Ithe shafts in the positions shownin Figs.- 1 and 5. 38 are stops which engage the arms and `limit the turning p K movement infon'e direction.

f By lead'ng allY 'the' stanchioneopening `cords 13 tothe space 30 atthe left-handfend vof the stable in Fig. 1, it is .possible by sestanchions, and the swinging movement is provided for byniounting the necks 13 of theheads-in'the supporting plates 18 Ysoas to allow the heads to turn about a vertical axis and by pivoting the lower ends of the stanchion members 4, 5 of each v y u stanchion to an anchoring member 39 which tive device is shown in Figs. .land 5, andit ismounted to turn in the floor of the stall. Byreason ofthe-fact that the cords 13 and 21 extend l' up through the hollow` neck it is opened.

will be seen that the stanchions can be opened or closed regardless of their position. It is, however, desirable that when the stanchions are opened they should always be placed square across the stall so that when the animal enters the stall the stanchion will be in the pro-per place for it to insert its head therein. l have, therefore, provided means whereby when the stanchions are opened they will be held in their centered position. As herein shown the latches have at their upper sides the beveled faces 40 to provide the lf-shaped formationv and the supporting plates 1S have on their under side centering members 4l having theV-shaped grooves 42 in their under sides. When the latches l are elevated to release the stanchions the inclined faces thereof enter into the V- shaped grooves 42 and the engagement of the latches in the grooves locks the head from turning. By making the grooves and the latches l0 with inclined faces any head 7 will center itself as the latches 10 are raised, provided said head is swung slightly out of its position at the time the stanchion lt is convenient oftentimes to be able to release any individual ing to the space B0, and to provide for this l connect to each of the cords 13 and 2l auxiliary stanchion-releasing and stanchionclosing cords and 44, these auxiliary cords extending back over the animal to the rear wall of thestable and passing over direction pulleys 46. lhe cords have at their lower ends hand pulls 47 so that a person walking along thev walk or platform 3 behind the cattle can release any individual animal by manipulating the proper cord 43.

lt will be noted that eachv bracket 24 is carried by a supporting plate 18. The advantage of this construction is that it facilitates the placing of my improved stanchions in any stable. This can be done by simply pivoting stanchion members at their lower end to the manger and then inserting a supporting plate 1S, having the head 7 and bracket 24 secured thereto in proper position above the manger. This supporting plate with the head and bracket can be readily placed in any stable by simply providing appropriate means for securing the plate in place.

l/l-hile l have illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the construction of details shown.

Having fully described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. ln a stanchion, the combination with two stanchion members pivotally connected at their lower ends and capable of swinging toward and from each other, of a head animal without goembracing the movable upper ends of said members, latches `carried by said head for locking the Vstanchion members in closed relation, said latches resting on and being supported in inoperative position by the stanchion members when the latter are opened, means supporting said stanchion members for turning movement about a vertical axis, and means cooperating with said latches' when they are in inoperative position to hold the stanchion centered.

2. In a stanchion, the combination with two stanchion members pivotally connected at their lower cnds and capable of swinging toward and from each other, of a head embracing the movable upper ends of said members, gravity-actuated latches carried by said head for locking the stanchion members in closed relation said latches resting on and being supported in inoperative position by the stanchion members when the latter are opened, means supporting the stanchion members for turning movement about a vertical axis, and means coperating with said latches when they are in their in inoperative position to hold the stanchions centered.

In a stanchion, the combination with two stanchion members pivotally connectel at their lower ends and capable of swinging toward-and from each other, of a head embracing the upper movable ends of said members and having' a hollow neck, latches carried by said head for locking the stanchion membersinclosed relation, cords connected to said latches and extending through said hollow neck by which the latches can be raised, said latches resting on and being supported in inoperative position by the stanchion members when they are opened, means sustaining said head for turning movement about a vertical axis and means to engage said latches when. raised and hold the stanchion from turning.

4. ln a stanchiomthe combination with two stanchion members pivotally connected at their lower ends and capable of moving toward and from each ot er, of a supporting member a head having a hollow neck mounted for turning movement in said member, weighted latches pivoted at their inner ends to said head and each having provision between its pivot and its weighted end to engage `said stanchion member and hold it closed, said latches being held in raised position by the stanchion members when they are open, a cord connected to said latches by which they may be released from the stanchion members and means to engage the latches when raised to hold the stanchions centered.

5. The combination with a plurality of stanchions, of a stanchion-opening cord for each stanchion, said cords all extending to the ysame place, a movable selective device, means for detachably connecting any partic- Y ular 'cord or'cords tosaid selective device,

and vmeans. for operating said selective dehvice thereby tok openthe stanchions 'corre- `spending tojsaid cords.`

6. The combination with a-plurality of -s't'anchions, 'of` a stanchion-opening cord for each stanchion, said cords all leading to the same location, a rock-shatthaving a pluing cord lfor each stanchion connected to said Sim-ln a stanchion, v -two stanchion members pivotally connected y member and connected tothe upper ends ot' the stanchion members.

the combination with at their lower ends, of a head embracing the :upper movable ends'of said members, latches Vcarried by saidrhead for locking the stanchien*l members in closed relation, said head vbeing mounted for turning movement about a vertical aXis, means tor 'releasing thev latches, said latches Vresting on and being 'held in inoperative position byl the stanchion members when the latter are opened, and

means` coperating zwith the latches for loclfing thehead romturning movement when vthe latches' 'arereleasedy f 9. In a stanchion, the combination with two stanchion members pivotally connected at their lower ends, of a head embracing the upper movable ends of said members, latches carried by said head for locking the stanchion members in closed relation, said head being mounted for turning movement about a vertical axis, means for raising the latches to release them, said latches resting on and being held in inoperative position by the stanchion members when the latter are opened, a centering member associated with ,the head and having interlocking engage- Lment `with the latches when they are raised whereby tok hold the head from turning while the stanchion is open.

.10. In a stanchion, the combination with a plurality of stanchions, each comprising two pivotally-connected stanchion members, of gravity-actuated latches for locking the stanchion members of each stanchion closed, a stanchion-opening cord connected to the latches for each stanchion, said cords all leading to a central .point from which they may be operated, a stanchion-closing cord connected to the members oi' each stanchion for closing the latter, and an auxiliary stanchion-opening cord and an auxiliary stanchion-closing cord connected to the iirstnamed cords and leading to a pointl behind the stanchion.

rln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this speciiication, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, JAMES H. LEVIS. Witnesses:

Bnn'rHA F. HnUsnR, Louis C. SMITH.

'Copiesof thispatent maybe obtained forve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, f l L Washington, D. C. 

